Monday's first joint practice between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants was filled with fights-double digit total by some counts from reporters on-site. Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed that as expected on Tuesday, tabbing all the practice stoppages as a "waste of everybody's time."
Tuesday's practice was much tamer on the fight front, as also expected as both head coaches surely addressed Monday's session the same way with their players.
Broadly, based on clips from on the ground, the Lions' secondary had a lot of trouble with Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers during both days of joint practice. There was surely some trash talk going on, and after Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold prevented a touchdown catch by Nabers....things escalated.
Lions safety Kerby Joseph was near Nabers after the play was over. Original angles from the end zone were inclusive as far as who started the fight, because Joseph is not visible after the incompletion until he's throwing punches at Nabers.
Fireworks and fights are back! #giants Rookie Malik Nabers and #lions Kerby Joseph throwing punches pic.twitter.com/QHqUt7s2Yx
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) August 6, 2024
But another angle shows it was clearly Nabers who started the fight by hitting Joseph in the face. Joseph was clearly set off, big-time, as he started throwing haymakers at Nabers.
Malik Nabers getting active #giants pic.twitter.com/HgVAi6y9fb
— TradeMark™ (@trademarkse) August 6, 2024
The fight between Nabers and Joseph turned the tone of Tuesday's practice back toward how Monday's was. A kickoff return period had fights after every rep, so the session was ended early.
Early end to practice after a kickoff return period dissolved into scrums after every rep.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 6, 2024
Joseph left the field with security after practice, and he declined to comment about the fight.
Kerby Joseph left the field with security and declined to comment after practice
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) August 6, 2024
Via Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic, Nabers did talk to reporters after practice and naturally he was asked about the fight.
"Stuff like that’s going to happen. It’s football at the end of the day."
Nabers was then asked if Joseph said something to instigate the fight.
"He did, but I’m not going to repeat it", Nabers said.
Neither guy was smart in the situation, throwing punches at someone who's wearing a helmet. But Joseph clearly heeded teammate Derrick Barnes' words from after Monday's practice (via Kyle Meinke of MLive).
"Man, look, that’s who we are,” Barnes said, “I mean we don’t take no (expletive)."
Nabers said Joseph said something to start the fight, and it wouldn't be surprising that he did. But you can't hit someone like Nabers did and walk away like you didn't do anything.
In any case, Thursday night's Lions-Giants game might be more interesting than a preseason opener would ordinarily be. Hopefully the players have it out of their system now, but the pugilistic edge from joint practices might carry over,